Power file construction

ABSTRACT

A power file with a plurality of pans which are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in a continuous orbit of travel. Side strut column members having upper and lower box members support the pans and conveyor mechanism. The pans each have a reinforced back wall with a plurality of gussets hung from the back wall which support a single thickness bottom wall eliminating bottom wall reinforcing members. A box trim bead is formed at the front edge of the bottom wall to provide stiffness for the bottom wall and to trap filed material. A plurality of slots in the back wall and front box trim bead hold removable dividers in the pans. Splicing members permit several file column sections to be mounted vertically upon one another forming a power file several stories high which can be shipped in knockeddown form and assembled at the installation site.

limited States Patent [1 1 Anders 1 POWER FILE CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Walter G. Anders, Canton, Ohio 3,199,658 8/1965 Gl'aber et al. ..3l2/268 lMarch 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-John G. Bishop et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A power file with a plurality of pans which are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in a continuous orbit of travel. Side strut column members having upper and lower box members support the pans and conveyor mechanism. The pans each have a reinforced back wall with a plurality of gussets hung from the back wall which support a single thickness bottom wall eliminating bottom wall reinforcing membeis. A box trim bead is formed at the front edge of the bottom wall to provide stiffness for the bottom wall and to trap filed material. A plurality of slots in the back wall and front box trim bead hold removable dividers in the pans. Splicing members permit several file column sections to be mounted vertically upon one another forming a power file several stories high which can be shipped in knocked-down form and assembled at the installation site.

12 Claims, 38 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARI'QIQB" 0 SHEET 10F 8 INVENTQOFI. WALTER (SANDERS & ATTORNEYS PATENTEUHARI 3W5 3.720%1 g INVENTOR WALTER SANDERS PATENTEUMAMIQB 51 SHEET u UF 8 IN YEN '1 Off. WALTER G. ANDERS PATENTFDMARI 3197a SHEET 5 UF 8 N maixval M INVESTOR WALTER G.ANDERS QM & W

PATENTEBHAR 1 3197s SHEET 8 OF 8 ISI INVENTOR. WALTER G.ANDERS g wadlv 8c M A T TOR NE YS PATEP'HEBHAR 1 31975 SHEET 7 BF 8 INVESTOR. WALTER G.ANDERS II-I'ltl'ull'l' A TTORNEYS POWER FILE CONSTRUCTION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS The improved power file construction is an improvement upon the structures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,199,658 and 3,321,260.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved frame construction having side strut columns and enlarged box-shaped footers upon which the pans and conveyor mechanism are mounted, and to an improved pan structure for mounting within the power file. The improved frame columns enable an extended file to be constructed from a plurality of file unit column sections which can be shipped in knockdown condition and assembled at the installation site.

2. Description of the Prior Art Power file frame constructions have been provided for mounting the file pans and conveyor mechanism which may be shipped in knocked-down condition for ready assembly at the location of use and which include vertical supports such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,199,658 and 3,321,260. Such vertical supports have required a base upon which the supports are mounted in order to carry and distribute the load, thus requiring additional material and increased erection costs, and the vertical supports were not designed to support files more than about to 12 feet high.

Likewise, the prior vertical side columns were integral members having a length equal to the file height. When such members are 8 or more feet long, they are difficult to transport and to move within a building through elevators and doorways, even in unassembled condition detached from the conveyor mechanism and pans. Thus, such side column members may limit the height of a file installation in many buildings were ceilings otherwise would permit the installation of taller files.

It is becoming more desirable to build larger file units, some of which may extend several floors in height and which project through an opening formed in the ceiling of one room up into the room above. Existing file side column and base constructions are not feasible for such large units from the standpoint of design, strength and size of the integral side columns required. v

The plurality of pans mounted within a file on continuous conveyor chains occupy substantially the entire volume of the space within the file to provide the maximum filing space for record cards, folders, and other types of files. Various pan structures have been used, such as disclosed in said U.S. Pat., Nos. 3,199,658 and 3,321,260.

These and other known prior pan constructions require reinforcing means for the pan front, back and bottom walls, usually in the form of channels, rods or flanged edge portions projecting below the pan bottom wall. Such pan designs thus reduce the available filing space.

It has been difficult in prior pan constructions readily to provide adjustable partition or dividers within each pan for forming separate filing compartments; and it has been difficult to provide smooth strong pan bottom wall filing surfaces free of projections or indentation which otherwise prevent free movement of file folders being withdrawn or replaced laterally of the pans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a power file construction having improved combined footer and vertical side column support means upon which the pans and conveyor mechanism are mounted which footer and column means are sppported or rest directly on the floor and support the load directly from the floor without requiring a base to support and distribute the load; providing a power file construction in which the combined footer and vertical side column support means may be formed in sections of convenient lengths which may be moved easily through doorways, and carried by elevators within buildings and then spliced together and extended upward to form a file several stories high; and providing a power file construction composed of a number of subassemblies which may be assembled readily at the location of file use, and which results in a simplified construction.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a power file having a new pan construction incorporated therein which enables the pan capacity of a given file to be increased by occupying the maximum available file space with each pan; providing a pan construction in which the pan strength is achieved largely through the back wall, eliminating numerous braces and reinforcing members heretofore required and which decrease the available filing space, and permitting a single sheet thickness bottom wall to be used; providing a pan construction which has a smooth bottom wall with no recesses, ledges or obstructions to interfere with movement of files or folders across the bottom wall into or out of the pan; providing a pan construction which has an upwardly extending front box trim means so that no available filing space is occupied by the trim formation and so that the trim means retains files or folders within the pan; and providing a pan construction which has new divider means that can be locked within the pan at various positions to provide a variety of filing pockets or cubicals.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the power file construction, the general nature of which may be stated as including in a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; the support means including upper and lower box-like header and footer members and vertical column means extending between and attached to said box-like header and footer members at each side of the file; the header and footer members each having a vertical wall and top, bottom and side flanges extending outward from the vertical wall; the column means each being channel-shaped and including a web secured to vertical header and footer member walls; splice means for connecting together two adjacent aligned vertical column means where necessary to extend the height of the power file; the pans having integrally formed back and bottom walls and having side walls attached thereto, the pan back walls being formed with reinforcing means and parallel upper and lower rows of spaced vertical slots, the bottom walls terminating at their front edges with upwardly projecting box-like reinforcing bead formations, there being a plurality of slots formed in said reinforcing bead formations aligned with the back wall slots, and means on the side walls for mounting the pans on the endless conveyor; gusset means extending between the pan back and bottom walls at spaced intervals between the pan side walls to support the bottom walls, the gusset means having back and bottom edges, flanges extending laterally from said back and bottom edge, recesses formed in the pan back and bottom walls, and said gusset flanges being seated in said pan back and bottom wall recesses and secured thereto; and divider means removably mounted within the pans, the divider means having a plurality of tabs engageable with the slots in the pan back wall and bottom wall reinforcing bead formations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles are set forth in the following description and are particularly and distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the improved power file construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2- 2, FIG. 1, with the cabinet frame removed, showing the left-hand side strut column and box-shaped header and footer;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, with portions broken away, taken on line 5-5, FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a reduced fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with portions broken away, taken on line 7-7, FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved pan structure incorporated in the improved power file construction;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9, FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved pan structure removed from the power file;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the improved pan structure shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan of the improved pan structure;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation of the improved pan structure looking in the direction of arrows 13-13, FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 14-14, FIG. 11;

FIG. 14a is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 14a-14a, FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 15-15, FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16-16, FIG. l4;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 17-17, FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation of a new divider used in the improved pan structure;

FIGS. 19-24 are fragmentary diagrammatic sectional views showing the manner in which the top, bottom and front divider tabs are mounted in the improved pan structure;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a modified form of the improved power file construction incorporated into an extended power file with the cabinet enclosure removed;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, with portions broken away, showing the left-hand side strut column and splice of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 27-27, FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 28-28, FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 29-29, FIG. 26;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 30-30, FIG. 26;

FIG. 31 is a front elevation of the improved pan structure similar to FIG. 13, shown with alternate back wall reinforcing means;

FIG. 32 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 32-32, FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33-33, FIG. 2;

FIG. 34 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 34-34, FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 35-35, FIG. 33;

FIG. 36 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 36-36, FIG. 6; and

FIG. 37 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 37-37, FIG. 36.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The improved power file construction is indicated generally at 1 (FIG. 1) and includes a front wall 2, end

walls 3 and top wall 4. Front wall 2 is provided with an access opening 5 which may be closed by a suitable door 6. A molding trim 7 may surround opening 5.

In accordance with the invention, upright support unit assemblies generally indicated at 8 and 9 are located at the left and right-hand ends, respectively, of tile 1 within the cabinet walls (FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 8). Support units 8 and 9 are self-supporting members and support the file load directly from the floor without requiring a separate base.

Support unit 8 includes an upright column channel member 10 and top and bottom open box-shaped header and footer members 11 and 12 attached thereto preferably by spot welding (FIGS. 2-6). Header member 11 includes a vertical mounting wall 13 which is spot welded to web 14 of channel 10, and has top and bottom flanges 15 and 16, and side flanges 17 all of which project outwardly from wall 13. Flange 16 is provided with a cutout portion 18 through which channel member 10 extends.

Footer member 12 includes a vertical mounting wall 19 to which channel web 14 is spot welded, and has top and side flanges 20 and 21, respectively, which project outwardly from wall 19. Flange 20 is formed with a eutout portion 22 through which channel 19 extends. A bottom flange 23 projects from the bottom of wall 19 extending outwardly beyond the edges of side flanges 21 and terminates in an upwardly bent end flange 24 which has an outwardly formed lip 25.

Right-hand support unit 9 (FIG. 8) includes a column member 26 and a footer member 27 and a header member (not shown) attached thereto. The header member and column channel 26 of support unit 9 are similar to header member 11 and column channel 18, respectively, of support unit 8.

Footer member 27 (FIGS. 8 and 9) includes a vertical mounting wall 28, side flanges 29, top flange 30 and a bottom flange 31, all of which project outwardly from vertical wall 28. Bottom flange 31 terminates in an upwardly bent end flange 32 which is formed with an outwardly projecting lip 33. Flange 38 similarly is provided with a cutout portion 380 through which channel 26 extends.

Bottom Z-shaped stringer members 34 extend between footer members 12 and 27 and top angle stringer members 35 extend between header members 11 to tie support units 8 and 9 together along with intermediate stretcher members 36 (FIG. 5) which are attached to webs 14 of channels and 26 by bolts 37.

Support unit 8 is similar to support unit 9 except flanges 21 and 23 of footer member 12 preferably are longer than flanges 29 and 31 of footer member 27 in order to provide additional strength and rigidity as well as space for mounting the power file drive means discussed later. Thus, only support unit 8 will be described in detail throughout the following discussion.

A roller trapping assembly generally indicated at 38 (FIGS. 4-7) is mounted on each support unit 8 and 9. Each trapping unit 38 includes two channel-shaped trap members 39 and 48 extending downwardly from a top bearing plate 41 along column channel 10. Each trap member 39 and 48 is formed with a web 62, an outer channel flange 43 and an elongated inner channel flange 44 which terminates in an inturned mounting flange 415 through which bolts 46 attach trap members 39 and 418 to column channel 10.

The upper and lower ends of trap members 39 and 419 are flared outwardly at 47 and 68, respectively, with the upper and lower ends of elongated channelflange 414 notched at 49 and 50 (FIG. 5).

The lower end of trapping unit 38 is mounted on bottom box wall 19 by bolts 51 engaged in a mounting plate 52 and extending through the lower portion of channel member 18. The intermediate and lower portions of track members 39 and 68 are connected together by straps 53 and the upper portion connected by reinforcing flange 54 formed at the bottom of top bearing plate 61.

Each support unit 8 and 9 is provided with an upper and lower stabilizing track 55 and 56, respectively (FIG. 6). Each upper track 55 is mounted on plates 57 which in turn are bolted at 58 to the inward side of header wall 13. Similarly, each lower stabilizing track 56 is mounted on plates 59 and attached to the inward side of footer wall 19 by bolts 68.

A top drive sprocket 61 is mounted on a bolt stub shaft 62 near the top of each support unit assembly 8 and 9 (FIG. 4). Shaft 62 extends between bearing plate 411 of trap assembly 38 and column channel 10. Similarly, a lower drive sprocket 63 is mounted on the ends of a main drive shaft 66 adjacent the lower end of each trap assembly 38 (FIGS. 3 and 9). Drive shaft 64 is mounted in bearings 65 carried by side support channel web 14.

An endless drive chain 66 is trained around sprockets 61 and 63 in each support unit 8 and 9. The vertical flights of drive chain 66 moves along the outer side of elongated channel flange 44.

Pivot pins 67 connect the links of drive chains 66 at desired intervals and extend inboard of the chains and journal rollers 68 at the inboard ends of pins 67. Rollers 68 are trapped in and travel in channel members 39 and 40 (FIGS. 4 and 7).

A series of scissor-like mounting arms 69 are carried by drive chains 66 by pivotally mounting the inner ends 70 of a pair of adjacent arms 69 on each pivot pin 67. The outer ends 71 of arms 69 pivotally mount and sup port at 72 the ends of hanger stub shafts 73 of improved file pans 74. Trapped rollers 68 and arms 69 function in a manner described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,260.

A pan stabilizing arm 75 also is mounted at 72 on each pan hanger shaft 73 adjacent outer ends 71 of mounting arms 69 and retained thereon by nuts 76. A cam roller 77 is mounted on outer end 78 of each stabilizing arm 75, and rollers 77 are engaged in, travel in and are controlled and guided by stabilizing tracks 55 and 56 (FIG. 6) in a manner described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,658. Thus, pan movement is stabilized and controlled as the pans 74 travel around the upper and lower rotary portions of the orbit of travel by the stabilizing tracks 55 and 56 and stabilizing arm rollers 77.

Power for driving the file may be supplied by a motor 79 driving through a gear reduction unit 80 to drive sprocket 81 which is mounted on unit 80. A chain 82 connects sprocket 81 with a larger drive sprocket 83 mounted on the end of main drive shaft 64 which in turn drives shaft 64. Motor 79 preferably is mounted on a plate 84 which is located between wall 19 and end flange lip 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of left-hand footer member 12.

Improved'file pan 74 (FIG. 10) is an open box-like structure preferably formed of sheet metal and including a back wall 85, bottom wall 86, side walls 87 and a plurality of gussets 88.

Back wall has a vertical wall portion 89 formed integrally with bottom wall 86 and terminates in a reversely bent top flange 98 providing a rigid top edge. Flange 98 is bent rearwardly outwardly then downwardly and inwardly to form channel 91 which extends longitudinally throughout the length of back wall 85. Channel 91 has a web 92, an upper flange 93 and a lower flange 96 terminating in a downturned flange 95. Flange 95 is spot welded at 96 to wall member 89 (FIG. M).

A plurality of abutting circular embossed recesses 97 and 98 are formed in back wall portion 89 and channel web 92, respectively, with recess pads 99 spot welded together at 188 (FIG. 15). Channel 91 and its connection to wall portion 89 at pads 99 and flange 95 forms a back wall 85 which provides adequate strength, stiffness and rigidity for pan '76.

Upper and lower parallel rows of slots 101 and 102 are formed in and extend longitudinally along wall portion 89. Individual slots 101 and 102 form vertically aligned pairs, the function of which is described below.

Pan bottom wall 86 is formed of a flat, single thickness metal sheet and has a box-shaped bead formation 103 at its front edge extending vertically upwards from and formed integrally with bottom wall 86. The front and rear corners of bottom wall 86 are notched at 104 and 105 providing a strip portion 106 which extends outward from each side of bottom wall 86 (FIG. 12).

Bead 103 is formed with a plurality of vertical slots 107 (FIGS. 11 and 140) which are aligned with slots 101 and 102 in back wall portion 89. Bead 103 provides stiffness for bottom wall 86 and forms a safe front pan edge which has a dual function of retaining filed material within the pan and also trapping the front end of divider means described below.

Pan side walls 87 are formed with outturned top and front flanges 108 and 109 and an inturned rear flange 110. An outturned flange 111 is formed along a portion of the bottom edge of side wall 87 and terminates in a downturned flange 112 (FIGS. 10, 12 and 13). Flange 112 is formed with a center slit 113 and a pair of inwardly extending ears 114 at either side of slit 113. Ears 114 are formed with a curved slanting undersurface 114a (FIGS. 10 and 11). Flanges 112 stabilize pans 74 during the straight travel portion of their orbital movement, by engagement with the pan hanger shafts 73 of the next pan below and resilient sleeves 115 thereon (FIGS. and 6) clamping adjacent pans together, in a manner similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,260.

Pan side walls 87 preferably are secured to back and bottom walls 85 and 86 by tack welds 116 between the lower end of front flange 109 and box trim 103 (FIG. spot welds 117 between flanges 111 and bottom wall strip 106 (FIG. 10), tack welds 118 between back wall member 89 and side walls 87 (FIG. 10), and plug welds 119 between rear flange 110 and back wall channel web 92 (FIG.

Holes 138 are provided in side walls 87 for bolting pan mounting plates 139 by bolts 140 (FIGS. 2 and 7). Holes 141 formed in pan side walls 87 receive the inner ends of hanger stub shafts 73 secured by welds 142 to mounting plates 139, so that plates 139 may be mounted flush against side walls 87 (FIG. 7

Gussets 88 hang at spaced intervals from back wall members 89 to rigidly support bottom wall 86 (FIG. 14). Mounting flanges 120 and 121 are formed at the back and bottom edges of gussets 88 and lie in elongated embossed recesses 122 and 123 formed in back wall member 89 and bottom wall 86, respectively; and the gussets 88 are spot welded to walls 89 and 86 at 124 and 125 (FIGS. 10, 14, 16 and 17). The recessed mounting of gusset flanges 120 and 121 enable back wall member 89 and bottom wall 86 to maintain smooth uninturrupted inner and upper surfaces on which papers, envelopes or file folders can slide during filing operations without catching or tearing.

The upper back corner of each gusset 88 is formed with a hooked finger 126 which engages over the top back wall flange 90. The lower front corner of each gusset 88 is provided with a tab 126a which engages in one of bead slots 107. The number of gussets 88 used for each pan may vary depending upon the pan length and the load weight which the pans must carry. Gussets 88 also provide the additional feature of dividing pans 74 into a plurality of separate filing compartments.

Thus, in the improved pan structure, the full height of the pan less the thickness of the single sheet bottom wall 86 is available for filing space in each pan. Front bead 103 projects upward and not down, so that no space between adjacent pans is required to clear the reinforcing bead formations. The pan strength and rigidity is achieved by the particular structure and cooperation of back wall 85, gussets 88, side walls 87, and bead 103. Thus, bottom wall reinforcing members are eliminated, which heretofore have extended beneath the pans occupying filing space and requiring greater separation between adjacent pans.

In accordance with the invention, improved dividers 127 (FIG. 18) may be installed in pans 74 to further subdivide pans 74 into a series of individual filing compartments.

Dividers 127 are formed of rigid sheet material, preferably metal, and include straight parallel bottom and top edges 128 and 129, a vertical rear edge 130 and a diagonal front edge 131. Front edge 131 and top edge 129 are joined together by a rounded corner 132 to minimize possible injury to someone reaching into pan 74 to remove filed material.

A tab 133 is formed at the lower front divider corner at the intersection of bottom edge 128 and front edge 131. A larger tab 134 notched at 135 is formed at the lower rear corner at the intersection of bottom edge 128 and rear edge 130. Another tab 136 notched at 137 is formed at the upper rear comer at the intersection of top edge 129 and rear edge 130.

Dividers 127 may be installed at various positions within pan 74, two of which are shown in FIG. 10, by engagement of tabs 136, 134 and 133 in aligned wall slots 101, 102 and corresponding aligned bead slot 107, respectively. The dividers 127 may be mounted on or removed from a pan 74 easily without tools or mechanical fasteners and without affecting their stability, as illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 24.

Upper tab 136 first is inserted in top pan slot 101 and lower tab 134 is inserted in an aligned lower slot 102. At this time front tab 133 is located above bead 103, as shown by dot-dash lines A, in FIGS. 19, 20 and 21.

Divider 127 is then moved downwardly with tabs 133, 134 and 136 assuming the positions shown by solid lines B, in FIGS. 20, 21 and 19. Next the front edge of divider 127 is tilted downwardly to contact bottom wall 86 and to assume the positions shown by dotdash lines C, in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24.

The final locking of the divider occurs by moving front tab 133 forward into bead slot 107. At this time upper tab notch 137 engages back wall 89 in slot 101 and tab 134 remains extending into slot 102, as shown in solid lines D, FIGS. 22-24.

The tabs 133, 134 and 136 extending into slots 107, 102 and 101 hold dividers 127 in place against direct lateral or vertical forces. Likewise, divider 127 remains locked in position against horizontal movement by engagement of notches 135 and 137 with wall 89. Thus, divider 127 cannot be accidentally dislodged, yet is removed easily by reversing the manipulation described above.

The particular arrangement of divider tabs 133, 134 and 136, and slots 187, 102 and 101 eliminates any tab portions projecting downwardly below pan bottom wall 86 to occupy filing space and to require the addition of enclosures to conceal the tabs. Thus, pan 74 has a flat bottom wall 86, yet is able to readily receive and retain dividers 127 therein without any portions of the pan or dividers extending below the pan bottom wall.

The reinforcing channel means for vertical wall portion 89 need not be formed integral with wall portion 89 but may be a separate member attached thereto as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32. Rear wall portion 89 may terminate in a rearwardly extending top flange 90a and a separate channel member 91a may be attached beneath top flange 90a and extends longitudinally throughout the length of back wall 85. Channel 91a has a web 92a, an upper flange 93a terminating in an upturned flange 93b and a lower flange 94a terminating in a downturned flange 95a. Flanges 93b and 95a are spot welded at 96a to wall member 89 (FIG. 32).

A Z-bar 97a preferably is located between web 920 and wall portion 89 and extends longitudinally throughout the length of channel member 91a. Z-bar 97a includes a web 98a and flanges 99a and 1000. Flanges 99a and 100a are spot welded at 101a to rear wall portion 89 and channel web 92a, respectively.

A series of openings 102a are formed in channel web 92a to provide access for spot welding flange 99a to wall portion 89. A notch 103a is provided in flange 99a and a portion of web 98a at the location of each rear wall recess 122.

The use of Z-bar 97a merely is one manner in which a reinforcing channel may be attached to rear wall portion 89 to provide the strength and stiffness for improved file pans 74.

The improved upright support unit construction may be modified to extend the height of the power file structure, by using spliced strut column channel member sections between the header and footer members. Such modular construction enables knockdown components of a power file section to be taken into and out of buildings and usual elevators easily, and splices in the strut columns made at the place of installation.

An improved extended power file, indicated at 143, is shown in FIG. 25, assembled from spliced column members similar to file 1 with the cabinet panels removed. Right and left-hand upright support unit assemblies 144 and 145 each include a side column channel member 146 having upper and lower channel portions 147 and 148 spliced together at 149. Header and footer members 150 and 151 are mounted at the top of channel portion 147 and at the bottom of channel portion 148, respectively.

Each channel member 146 (FIGS. 29 and 38) has a web 152, outwardly extending flanges 153 and lateral flanges 154 which terminate in inturned flanges 155. Header and footer members 158 and 151 have their walls 156 and 157 spot welded to channel webs 152.

The filing pans, indicated at 158, which are orbitally mounted within power file 143 may be like those shown in US. Pat. No. 3,199,658.

Drive sprockets 61 are joumalled on stub shafts 159 (FIG. 30) and welded at 162 to wall 156 of header 150, and to web 160 of a reinforcing channel 161. A reinforcing plate 163 extends between and is welded to channel flange 154.

The splicing means 149 for support units 144 and is shown in FIGS. 26 through 29, and each includes a splicing plate 164, a pair of upper angle brackets 165 and 166, and a lower angle bracket 167. Plates 164 are complementary in cross section to channel members 146, each having a web 168, outtumed end flanges 169, and lateral flanges terminating in inturned flanges 171 (FIG. 29).

Splice plate 164 is bolted by bolts 172 and 173 to the butted upper and lower ends of lower and upper channel portions 148 and 147. Bolts 172 extend through and connect flanges 154 and 170, and bolts 173 extend through and connect webs 152 and 168 (FIG. 29).

Angle bracket 165 is welded at 174 to channel web 152, and is bolted by bolts 165' to angle bracket 166 which is welded at 175 to splice plate web 168. Lower angle bracket 167 is welded to channel web 152 and supports the bottom edge of splice plate 164.

A stretcher member 176 preferably extends between support units 144 and 145 at the location of splices 149 and is connected to splice plates 164 by bolts 177 to provide lateral strength for the extended support columns.

Trap members 178 and 179 mounted on lower channels 148 preferably extend beyond the upper ends of channels 148 and are spliced to trap members 180 and 181 of upper channels 147 by splice channel sections 182.

Heretofore, adjustment of drive chains 66 required separate movement of the end bearing plates upon which the main shaft bearings are mounted and movement of the lower track assemblies such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,321,260. This required access to the end column members from both inside and outside the file which required movement of adjacent files where such files are placed in end-to-end alignment.

In accordance with the invention footer wall 19 and channel web 14 are provided -with a plurality of slots 184 through which track assembly mounting bolts 51 extend, and an enlarged central slot 185 through which main drive shaft 64 extends (FIG. 33-35).

Bolts 51 extend through holes 198 formed in each lower track assembly mounting plate 52 from the inner side of footer wall 19 of improved file 1, through column slots 184, and engage threaded holes 186 in bearing plate 183 to clamp plates 52 and 183 in adjusted position.

Thus, drive chains 66 are adjusted easily from within the improved files by loosening bolts 51 at each end of shaft 64 and moving connected bearing plates 183 and track assembly mounting plates 52 together, eliminating the separate movement of the bearing plates from the outside ends of the tile.

The lower portions of stabilizing tracks 56 are adjustably mounted on footer wall 19 and slidably connect with upper track portions at 187 (FIG. 6) in order to insure proper trapping of cam rollers 77 after adjustment of drive chains 66 and main shaft 64.

Stabilizing tracks 56, likewise, are adjustable from the file interior. Bolts 60 for track mounting plates 59 extend through slotted openings 188 formed in footer wall 19 from the inner side of column 18 and threadably engage vertical clamping straps 189 (FIGS. 36 and 37) located on the outer side of wall 19.

Accordingly, the invention provides an extremely efficient mechanized power file of simplified construction which may be shipped in knocked-down condition and readily erected or repaired with a minimum of expense and difficulty; provides a file construction which supports the load entirely on the side strut column members eliminating a base, thus reducing material and installation costs; provides a file construction in which the improved side strut column members can be shipped in sections capable of being moved through usual building doorways and elevators and spliced together at the installation site to form an extended power file several stories high; provides an improved pan structure for mounting within the file which increases the pan capacity of a given file by occupying the maximum available file space with each pan; provides a pan structure which has a reinforced back wall and gussets to provide the strength, stiffness and rigidity for the pan enabling the pan to have a single thickness bottom wall void of reinforcing members which heretofore extended below the pan and reduced available filing space; and provides a construction combining the concepts and features described and accomplishing the many new functions and achieving the new results indicated, thereby solving existing problems in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, cleamess and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved power file and pans are constructed, assembled and operated, the characteristics of the new constructions, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; the support means including header and footer box-like members and vertical column means extending between and attached to said header and footer members at each side of said power file; the footer members each including a vertical wall and top, bottom and side flanges extending laterally outward from said vertical wall, the bottom flange terminating in an upwardly bent end flange; said bottom flanges being adapted to rest directly on a supporting floor to support the entire power file load from the column means through the footer members directly on the floor; and the vertical column means being channel-shaped and having a web connected to said header and footer members.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which each vertical column means includes an upper and lower column section, and in which splice means connects said column sections together.

3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which the upper and lower channel-shaped column section ends abut each other; in which the splice means includes a channel-shaped member nesting in said abutted column section ends; and in which said channel splice member is connected to said abutted channel section ends.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which a first angle bracket is fixed to the lower end of each upper column section; in which each channel splice member has a web, in which a second angle bracket is fixed to each splice member web, and in which said first and second brackets are connected together.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which embossed recess means is formed in the vertical back wall portion and in the bottom wall; in which said back and bottom wall recess means are aligned with each other; in which the gusset means have back and bottom edges; and in which flange means extend from said gusset back and bottom edges and are connected to the vertical back wall portion and to the bottom wall within said embossed recess means.

6. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; the support means including vertical column means at each end of said power file, said column means each having inner and outer sides; lower track assemblies each including a mounting plate adjustably mounting said assembly on the inner side of said column member; an upper drive sprocket mounted on the upper end of each column member and a lower drive sprocket mounted on the lower end of said column member adjacent the lower end of the lower track assembly; an endless drive chain trained around said upper and lower sprockets and having vertical flights located and movable along said track assemblies; a drive shaft connecting the lower sprocket member; bearing means journalled on each end of the shaft including a mounting plate adjustably mounting said bearing means on the outer column side opposite a portion of said lower track mounting plate; a plurality of slots formed in said column members; and fastening means extending through said column member slots and connecting said bearing and mounting plates together whereby the fastening means may be reached from the inner side of the column member for adjustment of said connected mounting plates and drive chain.

7. The construction defined in claim 13 in which the fastening means includes a plurality of bolts which extend through openings formed in the track mounting plates; and in which said bolts are threadably engaged in openings formed in said bearing plate.

8. Pan construction for a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; each pan including back, bottom and side walls; the back wall having a vertical wall portion and reinforcing means mounted thereon and extending longitudinally along said vertical wall portion, said vertical wall portion being formed with a plurality of parallel rows of slots; the bottom wall having reinforcing bead means formed along its front edge extending upwards therefrom and being formed with a plurality of slots therein, said bead slots being aligned with the back vertical wall portion slots; divider means including a divider plate formed with a plurality of tabs, said tabs releaseably engaging the back and bead slots; gusset means attached to and extending between the back and bottom walls for rigidly supporting said bottom wall from said back wall; pivot means mounted on the side walls connected with the endless conveyor; and means extending downwardly from each side wall engageable with the pan next below for stabilizing the pans during the vertical conveyor movement.

9. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the back wall reinforcing means is a channel-shaped member having a web and channel flanges extending from said web; in which the pan vertical back wall portion terminates in a reversely bent top flange connected with one of said channel flanges; in which the other channel flange is connected to said vertical back wall portion; in which a plurality of first recess means is formed in the vertical back wall portion and in which a plurality of second recess means is formed in said channel web; in which said first and second recess means have bottom walls which are aligned with and abut each other; and in which said abutting recess bottom walls are connected together.

10. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the bottom wall front edge reinforcing bead means is boxshaped having a rear wall; and in which the divider tab slots are formed in said rear wall.

11. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the divider plate has straight parallel bottom and top edges, a vertical rear edge and a diagonal front edge; in which a first tab is formed adjacent the intersection of the bottom and front edges and projects outwardly forwardly therefrom and engages one of the bead means slots; in which a second tab is formed adjacent the intersection of the bottom and rear edges and projects outward rearwardly therefrom and engages one of said back wall slots; and in which a third tab is formed adjacent the intersection of the top and rear edges and engages one of said back wall slots to releasably mount the divider means on the pan construction.

12. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the back wall reinforcing means includes a channel-shaped member having a web and channel flanges extending from said web; in which the pan vertical back wall portion terminates in a rearwardly extending top flange adjacent to one of said channel flanges and in which the other channel flange is connected to said vertical back wall portion; in which a Z-shaped member having a web and flanges extending in opposite directions from said web extends longitudinally along the vertical wall portion; and in which one of said Z-shaped member flangesis connected to the vertical wall portion and in which the other Z-shaped member flange is connected to the channel web. 

1. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; the support means including header and footer box-like members and vertical column means extending between and attached to said header and footer members at each side of said power file; the footer members each including a vertical wall and top, bottom and side flanges extending laterally outward from said vertical wall, the bottom flange terminating in an upwardly bent end flange; said bottom flanges being adapted to rest directly on a supporting floor to support the entire power file load from the column means through the footer members directly on the floor; and the vertical column means being channel-shaped and having a web connected to said header and footer members.
 1. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; the support means including header and footer box-like members and vertical column means extending between and attached to said header and footer members at each side of said power file; the footer members each including a vertical wall and top, bottom and side flanges extending laterally outward from said vertical wall, the bottom flange terminating in an upwardly bent end flange; said bottom flanges being adapted to rest directly on a supporting floor to support the entire power file load from the column means through the footer members directly on the floor; and the vertical column means being channel-shaped and having a web connected to said header and footer members.
 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which each vertical column means includes an upper and lower column section, and in which splice means connects said column sections together.
 3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which the upper and lower channel-shaped column section ends abut each other; in which the splice means includes a channel-shaped member nesting in said abutted column section ends; and in which said channel splice member is connected to said abutted channel section ends.
 4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which a first angle bracket is fixed to the lower end of each upper column section; in which each channel splice member has a web, in which a second angle bracket is fixed to each splice member web, and in which said first and second brackets are connected together.
 5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which embossed recess means is formed in the vertical back wall portion and in the bottom wall; in which said back and bottom wall recess means are aligned with each other; in which the gusset means have back and bottom edges; and in which flange means extend from said gusset back and bottom edges and are connected to the vertical back wall portion and to the bottom wall within said embossed recess means.
 6. In a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; the support means including vertical column means at each end of said power file, said column means each having inner and outer sides; lower track assemblies each including a mounting plate adjustably mounting said assembly on the inner side of said column member; an upper drive sprocket mounted on the upper end of each column member and a lower drive sprocket mounted on the lower end of said column member adjacent the lower end of the lower track assembly; an endless drive chain trained around said upper and lower sprockets and having vertical flights located and movable along said track assemblies; a drive shaft connecting the lower sprocket member; bearing means journalled on each end of the shaft including a mounting plate adjustably mounting said bearing means on the outer column side opposite a portion of said lower track mounting plate; a plurality of slots formed in said column members; and fastening means extending through said column member slots and connecting said bearing and mounting plates together whereby the fastening means may be reached from the inner side of the column member for adjustment of said connected mounting plates and drive chain.
 7. The construction defined in claim 13 in which the fastening means includes a plurality of bolts which extend through openings formed in the track mounting plates; and in which said bolts are threadably engaged In openings formed in said bearing plate.
 8. Pan construction for a power file of the type in which a plurality of pans are mounted on an endless conveyor carried by support means for movement in either direction in a continuous orbit of travel and any selected pan is delivered by power means to a work station location; each pan including back, bottom and side walls; the back wall having a vertical wall portion and reinforcing means mounted thereon and extending longitudinally along said vertical wall portion, said vertical wall portion being formed with a plurality of parallel rows of slots; the bottom wall having reinforcing bead means formed along its front edge extending upwards therefrom and being formed with a plurality of slots therein, said bead slots being aligned with the back vertical wall portion slots; divider means including a divider plate formed with a plurality of tabs, said tabs releaseably engaging the back and bead slots; gusset means attached to and extending between the back and bottom walls for rigidly supporting said bottom wall from said back wall; pivot means mounted on the side walls connected with the endless conveyor; and means extending downwardly from each side wall engageable with the pan next below for stabilizing the pans during the vertical conveyor movement.
 9. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the back wall reinforcing means is a channel-shaped member having a web and channel flanges extending from said web; in which the pan vertical back wall portion terminates in a reversely bent top flange connected with one of said channel flanges; in which the other channel flange is connected to said vertical back wall portion; in which a plurality of first recess means is formed in the vertical back wall portion and in which a plurality of second recess means is formed in said channel web; in which said first and second recess means have bottom walls which are aligned with and abut each other; and in which said abutting recess bottom walls are connected together.
 10. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the bottom wall front edge reinforcing bead means is box-shaped having a rear wall; and in which the divider tab slots are formed in said rear wall.
 11. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the divider plate has straight parallel bottom and top edges, a vertical rear edge and a diagonal front edge; in which a first tab is formed adjacent the intersection of the bottom and front edges and projects outwardly forwardly therefrom and engages one of the bead means slots; in which a second tab is formed adjacent the intersection of the bottom and rear edges and projects outward rearwardly therefrom and engages one of said back wall slots; and in which a third tab is formed adjacent the intersection of the top and rear edges and engages one of said back wall slots to releasably mount the divider means on the pan construction. 